GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THE PRESSURE SENSITIVE TAPE
INDUSTRY

Here are the most widely used terminologies within the Pressure
Sensitive Tape Industry. We think this will help the browser
gain more knowledge and better understanding of the products.
This will also be helpful in being able to articulate what specific
material one is looking for. Please consult these pages when you have a problem with your material or what to
look for a new material.

CARRIER - Sometimes used to refer to the backing material, particularly in double-faced tapes.

COATED
CLOTH - Fabric with a rubber or
plastic back coating to give increased moisture resistance or longer
wear.

COHESION (Cohesive strength, internal bond) – The ability of the
adhesive to resist splitting. Good
cohesion is necessary for clean removal.

COLD
FLOW - The tendency of a pressure
sensitive adhesive to act like a
heavy viscous liquid over a period of time. Such phenomena as oozing
and increase in adhesion, are one result of this characteristic.

COLOR - The particular color of a tape, when looking at the backing,
regardless of the color of the adhesive.

COLOUR
STABILITY - The ability of a
tape to retain its original color, particularly when exposed to light.

CONFOMABILITY - The ability of a tape to fit snugly or make essentially
complete contact with the surface of an irregular object without creasing or folding.

CREPE - Paper which has small
“folds’ in it, giving it high stretch and conformability.

CROSS-LINKED - The development of
three-dimensional structure in an adhesive which is activated normally
by heat. An improvement
in shear resistance, high
temperature resistance and oil or solvent will normally result.

CUPPING - A slightly U-shaped deformation of the tape (at right angles
to the
length).

CURLING - The tendency of a tape to
curl back on itself when unwound from the roll.